Why was no one found worthy to open the scroll in Revelation 5?
No one in heaven, on earth, or under the earth—not even the angels—was found worthy because no one in God's creation had the authority or capability to open the scroll, pictured as a mortgage. John wept until the Lion of Judah, Christ, was revealed as the only worthy one.
Les explains that the strong angel proclaimed with a loud voice, asking who is worthy to open the book or scroll and to loose its seals. Verse 3 says no man in heaven, no one, not even the angels, nor in earth, nor under the earth—nowhere in God's creation was there anyone with the authority or capability to open this mortgage. John wept much because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll or look thereon. Then one of the elders told him not to weep, saying, “Behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah.” Les points out that the word Lion is capitalized, and Christ came out of Judah. Jesus the Christ, already in heaven, comes before the throne of the Father and is the only one with authority to open this mortgage and say, “I'll pay it off.” Les also connects this to Jewish history and custom, especially the book of Ruth: if a Jew mortgaged his land and could not pay it off, just before foreclosure, a redeemer had to be a next of kin.
And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
More Questions
In Revelation 5, what does the speaker call the scroll that no one could open?
In Revelation 5, the scroll is spoken of as a 'mortgage' that someone must be worthy to open.
What does it mean that no one in heaven, on earth, or under the earth was able to open the scroll in Revelation 5?
In Revelation 5:3, 'no one in heaven, earth, or under the earth' means that no one anywhere in God's creation had the authority or capability to open the scroll.
What is the sealed scroll in Revelation 5 according to Les?
Les identifies the sealed scroll in Revelation 5 as 'this mortgage'—a document of debt that needs to be paid off.